Washing machine



' Sept. 29,1925.

- A. J. FISHER WASHING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 7. 1921 3Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 29, 1925, 1,555,651

- i A. J. FISHER vmsnme ncamn 0:1;11151 Filed 001:. 7. 1921 5Sheets-Sheet 2 7 Mania/@- Sept. 29, 1925.

A. J. FISHER WASHING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 7. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet5' Patented Sept. 29,

*UNITED STATES,

PA ENT oFl-lcE. T

ALVA J. FISHER, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR '10 H'UBLEY KAOHIHE OICHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION 01. ILLINOIS.

1 WASHING MACHINE.

Original application filed mm "r, 1521, man No. 505,071. Divided and umapplication at mum-y 2a, 1923. Serial no. 814,077. a 1

To all it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALVA J. Frsmm, a citi-' zen of the United States,residing at Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illi- 6 nois,haveinvented certain new and useful Im mvements in Washing Machines, of-wh1ch the followin is a specification.

This invention relates to laundry washing machines and more particularlytothe rotating drum or container for tumbling or a 'tating the laundry,and the main object o the invention is to construct the drum orcontainer of metal stam ings and arts which are quickly. and easiassemble and cheaply manufactured, while. at the same time the drumcombines and embodies the efiiciency, minimum wear and; tear' on thelaundry, avoidance or prevention of warping, distortion, rust orcorrosion of the parts and ease of repair. The invention also embodiesnew and useful improvements in the closure means for the rotating. drum,and the appended claims are more particularly directed to suchimprovements, the present applicatien being a division of my copendingapplication, Serial No. 505,97 7 filed October 7, 1921, in which theremaining features of the invention are claimed.

In thedrawings, Figure 1 is a sectional 30 view taken through a washingmachine, the

section being taken near the right hand end of the ma'chi'neto show therotating drum,

embodying the present invention, in-end elevation; Fig. 2 is across-section throu h part of the drum, shown in Fig. 1; Figs. 3 "and 4are detailed sections taken on .lines' 3-3 and 44, respectively, ofFig.1; Fig. 5 isa longitudinal section through part of the drum, as onthe line 5-5 pf Fi 2 and with the middle portion of "the rum -brokenaway; Fig. 6 shows a full sized section taken through one of the endportions .of a wall section and the adjacent end portion of the head ofthe drum; Fig. 7 is a transverse seetion through a portion of thedoor'or cover and the parts in proximity .with its rear edge, thesection being taken as 'on the line 7.7, of Fig. 5; Fig. 8a-pe'rspective view of the forward portion of a sideplate of the.

door or cover; 9 is a section on the line 9-'9 of Fig. 4; .-ig.-10 is asection on the line 101O of Fig. 7 Fig. 11 is a perspective,

view of a fragment of one of the'heads and Fig. 7.

Fig-12 is a; section at... line 12-12 or- Referring to Fig. 1 of thedrawin s the washing receptacle or tub 1 is prefersi blv of the neraltype illustrated in m co nding app ication, Serial No. 338,511, edovember 17, 1919, and comprises twoimetal end 00 frames 2 and a. tubconsisting of a cylindrical sheet metal wall 3, ends 4, and a door or.

cover .5, hinged at 6 andpr'ovided with a handle 7 near its front edgeto facilitate the opening and closing of the cover. The laun- 6 drytumbling or agitating drum 8, embody- I in the present invention, isrotated in the tu about trunnions9- and 10 (Fi 1' and 2) by an electricmotor or other suitable means not shown. The trunnion 9 projects.

from a plate 11 fastened to one end of the drum 8 and 'is adapltedtoseat in a; bearing (not shown) on t e corresponding end 4 of the tub.The trunnion '10 roject's from the other end of the tub intoa aring 12-on the plate 13 fastened to the adjacent end of the drum and is heldtherein-by a slide 15 (Fig. 1) which is operated by a lever 14 to permitremoval of the drum from the tub,

as is well understoodin the art.

The drum 8 comprises ends or heads17, bafiles or agitators 18, aplurality of curved f sections 19 forming the cylindrical head or wall,and a cover or door 20. The ends or .heads 17 are formed of sheet metaldiscs 86 head 17. is a five-point star 21 haying a circular centerportion with 'thepoints of the star forming radiating ribs, the stardepression's being formed to add rigidity and strength to the heads. Theinner sides of the plates 11 and 13, which" are riveted or otherwisefastened to the heads, conform to these depressions. Adjacent theperiphery-- 6 of each head is formed an annular r1b 23 (Fig. 6) forminga circular groove 24 openling inwardly and anoverhan ing flange 25.

f The four sections 19, formi thecylindrical wall of the drum or cyliner. are alike 1 construction and each is formed from'a blank of sheetmetal, being 'ven' the "desired shape by means of 1 suite le dies. Thesecurved sections 19 and the heads 17. are preferably formed of the samethin-sheet. metal, 106

which; v: considerable strength while at the same time it has rust-proofand non-' corrosive characteristics. The transverse ed'ge .ortions ofthe sections'are curved outw y and then towards'each other to form curveedges and overhanging flanges 26 so that when the sections are assembledon the head the curved edges seat firmly in the grooves'24 in the headsand flanges 26 press against the Han to assure a'tight fit between theen of the sections and the heads.- The longitudinal edge portions of thesections 19 are provided with groves 27 (Figs. 2 and 7) and the outerwalls 28 of the grooves art curved cylindrically. 9

It will. be observed that channels or grooves 29 (Fi 6) somewhatV-shaped in section are on t e'inside of thedrumin thecorners formed bythe union of the sections 19 with the heads 17 and cogiguous with theline of contact 30 of the ctions with the heads. This feature, theprinciple of which -is followed at various places throughout v thedrumis a very important one, its purpose being to prevent pieces oflaundry, and

particularly garments or fabrics of delicate or fine texture, such aslaces and silks, from becoming fastened, caught or cut on sharp edges orbetwen the contacting surfaces 01 edges of the sections and heads andconsequently torn or damaged. In the present invention the line ofcontact between any two surfaces or parts, such as that between erablyformed of some lig wise, as shown in Figs. '2 and 7, to give them addedstrength; The ends of the bafllesare of uniform thickness (transverselyof the baflles) and the corrugated portions merge therewith to ,avoid sends of the baflles are seated in equi-spaced have the same depth as andmerge with the.

arp corners. -These depressions 31 ('Fi 2, 7 and 12) which are formed inthe hea s 17. These depressions grooves 24 and. are widened or flared attheirouteror merging ends to accommodate the ends of the ooved edgeportions of the sections 19, it ing understood that the turnedtransverse end portions of the sec- 9 tions terminate short of the rgrooved edge portion, asindicated at 32 (Fig. 7). The

- side wallsofjthe de re'ssions are inclined to -provide the channe sorgrooves 33 which prevent the laundry from probably getting astenedbetween the contacting edgesof the baflles and heads, as explainedabove.

I The inner lon 'tu'dinal of each baflle plate p ded with an sa bead.34,

substantially semi-cylindrical in cross-sectlon, and a correspondingbead 35 is provided on the outer edge, but each bead 35 grooves 37formed by the flanges 39 and the beads 35, the curved marginal portions28 of the sections being in contact with the complemental,cylindrically-curved surfaces 41 of the beads. between the beads and theportions 28 adjacentthe line of contact to prevent any laundry frombeing caught or pinched or cut as explained above. As shown in Figs 3and 4 the flanges 25 of the heads fit in recesses or cut-away portions36 in the ends of the ribs or ledges 38.

The ends of the baffles 18 are equipped with bosses 44 provided withscrew threaded openings into which headless screws 45 are screwed (Figs.3, 4, 9 and 10). As shown in Fig. ,9. one side of each screw is Channels42 are providedflattened and after the screw has been placed in theopening the side of the boss 44 opposite the flattened side of thescrew. is also flattened in any desired manner so that it willpositively prevent the screw from workmg loose orbemg withdrawn from theboss.

The screws project through apertures in the bases of the depressions 31in the heads and their projecting ends carry washers 47 and nuts 48, thescrews, nuts, and washers belng the only devices employed for fastenlngthe heads securely to the baflle plates and hold ing the bafile plates,the heads and the wall sections 19 in assembled condition. The nuts 48on the screws for the baffle plates adiacent the door opening areprovided with integral sleeves or bosses50 for purposes to be describedlater, it being understood that the other nuts 48 are not provided Wltllthese bosses.

The main panel of the door or cover 20 is formed of the same kind ofsheet metal as the sections 19 and is curved on the same radius tocomplete the cylindrlcal form of the drum. It is approximately of thesame width (from front to rear) as each of the sections 19, but issomewhat shorter in length (from side to side) as shown 1n Fig. 5. Thefront edge of the door is rolled out- 'wardly about the stifl'ening rod53 (Fig. 2)

which is as long as the main panel and the rear edge of the main panelis bent inwardly to form a flange 54 having a cylindrical portioncontacting with the forward semi-cylin- 24 to form smooth edges and-theplates 55 are provided with grooves 56 which fit over these rolled edgeportions of the heads when the door is'closed.

The sleeves or bosses 50 (Fig; 10) of the nuts 48 on the outer screws inthe baflle plate at the rear edge of the door project through flaredopenings 57 in the rear enlarged ends of the overhanging flanges 56'! ofthe plates 55 and serve as pivots for the door. The forward ends of theflanges 56 have circular depressions in which are secured metal discs 58(Fig. 8) the discs and plates being provided with cut-away portionsforming shoulders 59 with which noses or rojections 60 on latches 61engage to lock tlle door in closed position (Figs. 1 and 3). The latches61 are pivoted on the bosses 50 of the inner nuts 48 carried by thescrews on the baflle plate at the front edge of the door and the bosseson the outer nuts project through slots .63 in the latches, which havefinger pieces 64 to facilitate their manipulation. Springs 67 at one endare coiled about the bosses on the outer nuts and the opposite ends ofthe springs after passing under the V bosses on the inner nutspress'againstflanges 65 to force the latches into latching position.When the door is closed the curved edges of the plates under theshoulder59 engalge inclined edges 66' on the latches to force t elatches forwardly until the shoulders 59 and are in registry when thesprings move the latches into latching position, it' therefore beingunnecessary for the operator to touch the latches while the door isbeing closed.

Mounted on the bosses 50 of the nuts on the baflie plate at the rearedgev of'the door are springs 68 having projecting bent or-. tions 69which contact with the rear e ges 70 of the flanges 56 of the plates 55.The

springs 68 are so tensioned that, when the latches are operated torelease the door, they move the door to the partially-opened positionshown in dash lines in Fi 7. The door 20 may then be raised orfu lyopened by hand to the position represented by the dot-dash lines in Fig.7. This is a very important feature of the inventionas it requiresorwarns the operator to close the door of the drnmtightly'before themachine is operated. With thepresent construction the o tor may closethe door and think 7 that it is latched, but on removing her hand thedoor, if not actually latched, will spring partially open, giving fullwarning that it was not latched in closed position.

It will be noted that when the door is closed the rear edge of itsflange 54 is flush or contacts with the flat surface of the battle plateimmediately under or contiguous to the curved portion 55 of the bead,this clos fit being very desirable to avoid threads of the laundry frombeing caughtor fastened between the flange and the baflie plate. .The

cylindrical surface of the flan e 54 is also in contact with thecylindrica while the door is being closed for the same purpose. When thedoor is fully opened'it may, if desired, be resiliently retained insurface 55 such position by the engagement of its flan e 54 against thetop edge of the rib 38 of t e bafile plate, the yielding character ofthe flange 54 being availed of to accomplish this resu t. v

The main panel ofthe door and the sections 19 are provided with numerousapertures 70 (Figs. 5 and 6) which are preferably arrangedin parallellongitudinal-and transverse rows. The' function of these holes orapertures as is well known in the art, is 'to permit circulation of theair and water. The metal around the holes pressed or stamped outwardlyto form frusto-conical depressions 71 with the holes at the apexes andthe metal at the bases of the drum and therefore cannot out or catch thelaundry.

In Fig. 10 I have shown the outer ends of the openings through the nuts48 fi'lled with solder or other soft metal 74, all of the nuts beingpreferably treated in this way to prevent them from workin loose. It isobvious however that this so t metal does not prevent the nuts frombeing readily re-' moved by a wrench when it is desired to disassemblethe -drum orv remove a part thereof. a a From the above descriptiom itwill be apparent that its drum is quickly and easily assembledand disassbled, the only fastening devices being the rews 45 and the nuts 48, asthe sections 19 are held in position by reason of theen'gagement oftheir transverse and longitudinal edges in the grooves 24 in the headsand the grooves 37 in the baffle plates. The headsand sections 19 areformed of very thin sheet metal and, there- .fore, havea somewhatresilient character so ing important to prevent such torsionalmovement/as the'drum is driven from only one head or end. At thesametime the drum has no parts which can become warped or distorted, andlaundry of the finest texture or character is prevented from beingcaught or fastened between the "parts by virtue of the narrow channelsor grooves formed adjacent the,lines of contact of the parts. The edgesaround the holes 71 are smooth and rounded, presentin no crack or vsharp edge which. might catch or cut the laundry and the metal aroundthe holes is stamped or formed so as to increase the efliciency of thedrum. Should a part of the drum become damaged it may be readilyrepaired or replaced by a new part, as the drum is' easily and veryquickly disassembled and assembled, it being merelyinecessary to removeand then replace the nuts 48.

heads are made from sheet metal stamped by dies and that as the partsare merely fastened together'by a few screws and nuts the cost ofmanufacture is very low and the parts may be easily packed and cheaplytransported in. aknock'-down condition .and then quickly assembled attheir destination.

While I have shown and described a cylindrical drum it is obvious thatthis casing or container may be of any desired shapeand form and embodyvarious features of the present invention. 1 have describedabove oneform of embodiment of my invention but it is to be understood that theinvention.

is susceptible of various modifications and changes all coming withinthe scope and spirit of my invention, as defined in the followingclaims:

.1. In a washing machine, the combination of a casing having an opening,a drum mounted to be operated therein, a door pivoted on the drum andadapted to 0 en into said opening, latch means foifhol ing the doorclosed, and spring means for holding the door open when it is not inlatched position.

2. In a washing machine, the combination of a casing having an opening,a drum mounted to be operated therein, a-door pivoted on the drum andadapted to open into said opening, latch means for holding the doorclosed, and spring means of sufiicient strength opening;i

to only partially open the door and hold it partially open when it isnot in latched position the door being adapted to be manually opened therest of the way independentl of the spring means.

heads for securing t e heads to the 'baflle,

a door on said drum pivoted on said securingdevices, latch means forholding the door in closed position, and springs mounted on saidsecuring devices for holding the.

position,

door opened when not in latched 5.- In a drum for washin machines, thecombination of heads, a wal having a door ing, a oor, spring means forholding the door in opened sition, latch means 'for holding the door inclosed osition, and devices for securing the hea s to the bafiles,

the devices for one baflle also supporting the spring means andpivotally .supporting the door and the devices for the other bafllesupporting the latch means. It is apparent that as the wall sections anda baflle at each edge of said open- 6. In a drum for washing machines,the

combination of heads, a wallhavin an opening therein,(a doorofor closingsai o nmg,

side plates 'secured)to said door and aving inner and outer flangesforming grooves fitting over the edges of the heads when the door is inclosed position, andmeans projecting through the outerv flanges of saidside plates for pivoting the door on the outside of the drum.

7. In a drum ior-washin machines, the

otally mount-ing. the-door on the outside of the drum, and a memberextending between the heads and having a rounded portion adjacent thepivotal axis of the door and in sliding contact with the rear flange ofthe door during opening and closing movements thereof.

8. In a drum for washing machines, the

combination of heads, a wall having a door open1ng,"a door pivotallymounted onthe drum and having a curved flange, and member extendingbetween the heads and having 'a portion within the drumcurvedcomplemental'to and in sliding contact with said curved flangeduring'opening and closing movements of the door.

9. vIna drum for washing machines, the combination of heads, a wallhavin a door opening, a door'pivotally mounte on the drum, and a bafllesecured at its ends to the y "it heads and having a rounded portionadjacent the pivotal axis of the door and in sliding contact with therear edge of the door during opening and closing movements of the door.

10. In a drum vfor washing machines, the

the door is closed and also having a curved portion with which theflange slidingly ena es durin o enin and closin moveg a v inents of thedoor.

11. In adrum for washing machines, the combination of heads, a wallhaving a door opening, a door pivotally mounted on the drum and having acurved flange at its rear edge, and a member extending between the headsand having on one side a portion curved complemental to and in contactwith I said curved flange and on the other side a groove in which theend of said wall is located.

12. In a drum for washing machines, the combination of heads, awvallhaving a door opening, a door pivotally mounted on the drum, and abafiie secured at its end to' the heads and having a rounded portionadjacent the pivotal axis of the door and contacting with the rear edgeof the door and a grooale in which the end of said Wallis locate i 'ALVAJ. FISHER. I

